Category Archives: Thankfulness

Young Love (#61)

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Although Nate’s letters didn’t indicate any uncertainties over the incident with my old boyfriend, surely it discouraged him. Part of the problem (for both of us) was our need to be together, which was frustrated by circumstances that wouldn’t allow it – and both of us were suffering as a result. I made an appointment with our pastor, thinking we could use his counsel, not just about the wedding ceremony but everything else, too. It was arranged in August, during family week at camp when Nate and I wouldn’t be counseling. Perfect timing.

July 17, 1969 – Dear Nate. Everything is all set to meet with Pastor Sweeting in a wedding “conference” set up for the Wednesday in August when we won’t be at camp. It will be good to talk to him. My roommate came home tonight after 2 weeks away, and I’m so glad. I’ve missed talking with her so much. Marti is a true friend. She was excited to see our ring and thinks it’s gorgeous. I get fonder and fonder of it every day, and fonder and fonder of my commitment to you every day, too! I need you with me in so many ways, but most of all because I love you soooo much!

July 17, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I think your old boyfriend knows now, completely and honestly, of our engagement, and I don’t feel further explanations can do anything – either be more considerate of his feelings or more explicit. I know you agree that any meeting with him is unfair to our relationship. I love you. Thank you for your letter. I understand your situation and think you handled him and his friend brilliantly. I’ll love you forever! And I hope you will come on Sunday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When it didn’t work out for me to visit that Sunday, Nate grew discouraged. But just when his spirits were lagging badly, he got a jolt of encouragement from an unlikely source:

my mom.

moms-letter-to-nate

Her letter (written with red ink on pink paper) arrived at Ft. Riley full of loving words and a welcome into our family. I didn’t know she’d planned to write him but was delighted when he phoned on a pre-arranged Saturday night call and read her words to me:

Dear Nathan: Thanks for your kind letter. Congratulations on your engagement to Margaret. May you have “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” in your life together. We lovingly welcome you into our family. The ring you gave your wife-to-be is exquisite: we are overwhelmed with its size.

From birth until even today, Margaret has been a “joy and light” in our home, truly a gift from God. In all likelihood, Meg will belong to you far longer than she’s been our little girl, but in your own well-chosen words, she will forever be “Margaret who we love.” Agreed? Settled!

the-letterWe love you likewise, dear Nathan.

It was a pleasure to meet your parents. Your mother wrote a sweet note to us, offering help with the wedding and in any area needed. Rest assured the Nymans and Johnsons are counting their mutual blessings in the union of their Nathan and our Margaret.

                      Fondly, Evelyn Johnson

 

“Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Young Love (#60)

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My mind was racing a mile a minute as I opened the apartment door and saw my old boyfriend standing there with another guy. I had worked hard to get him out of my mind in previous weeks, but even with effort, there was still a shred of a bond between us. My hands began to shake, and I so wished Nate was standing beside me. But my partner was far away, and I had to deal with this alone.

Emotions are a tricky thing. Attachments from the past can be reawakened by a song, a scent, a picture. And the picture I saw standing in front of me was wreaking havoc in my mind. The only thing to do was leave the room until I could get some measure of control.

a-bathroomI excused myself to the bathroom where I cried out to a God I knew would hear me and rescue me. I asked for a calm, logical spirit to be able to cope with my spinning thoughts and the two young men standing in my living room.

Now… to continue quoting from my letter of explanation to Nate, who was hundreds of miles away:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

God heard my prayer and calmed me down considerably, enough to go back to converse with them. I asked what they were doing downtown, and it was less than a minute when they suddenly noticed my engagement ring. He [old boyfriend] said, “Hey! Wait a minute! What’s this?” And grabbed my hand. I was so proud to tell them of our engagement, about when it happened, and when our wedding would be. I was bursting with joy over you, in my words to them. He just couldn’t believe we were engaged. They invited me to go out with them (saying we would celebrate the engagement), and though we did leave the apartment briefly, we were back in minutes. He was quite sullen and quiet after he’d seen our ring and quickly became anxious to leave. I was relieved to see them go, so that I could get with the Lord in prayer and go back to 1 John. God confirmed for me immediately the rightness of our marriage and my ever-growing love for you, my future husband. I love you so much! YOUR Meg.

July 15, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Would you be up for coming down here on Sunday just for the day (20 July), if I can confirm it in a phone call? I really want to be with you. I miss you. I will try to call you Saturday, 19 July, in the early evening. You were very honest with me about your boyfriend’s visit, how long it lasted, and that he saw your ring and now realizes the completeness of the engagement. I love your honesty and your beautiful soul (praying in the bathroom) so much that I could cry. I am confident he has high enough regard for our decision to respect it by leaving us alone now. If the devil was testing you, you passed with Christ’s blessing! Excellent! I’m proud of you!

July 16, 1969 – Dear Nate. You are amazing, the way you love me no matter what. I’ve never known someone who loves like that… except, of course, the Lord. I am longing to have you with me. I need you! I’m glad we decided to get married earlier rather than later. The distance between us isn’t helping anything.

July 16, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I am very secure in your love and loyalty. I’m glad we made the decision to have each other only, and no others in any capacity on the side – that we realized lateral relationships can destroy a marriage. You’re a fabulous Christian woman. I love you! I love you, no matter what.

“So will I ever sing praises to Your name, as I perform my vows day after day.” (Psalm 61:8)

Young Love (#63)

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Both Nate and I were longing so much to be married that we began fantasizing about it in our letters. I wrote an eight-page epistle describing how I hoped our married life would be — the imagined story of one evening, overnight, and the following morning. Because I wrote in vivid detail, I won’t share it here. But I loved the process of running ahead into our marriage, and I know Nate loved reading of how eager I was to be his wife.

wheel-of-postcardsNate was trying to freshen up our correspondence, too. He bought a dozen postcards, wrote on all of them while he was out on field exercises, and mailed them all on the same day. They were full of joy and anticipation but also feelings of loneliness.

 

July 14, 1969 – Meg. This weekend without you has been very lonely – one hour without you, even if I’m with a thousand guys at Ft. Riley, is lonely. Without Meg, I’m lonely in a crowd. Love, Nate

postcard

July 15, 1969 – Dear Nate. In addition to the marriage stories I’m writing for you, today I wrote the story of our engagement for the local newspaper, to be put in the announcement section. Your mother wrote and asked for a picture of me and a copy of the short article so she could place it in your home town paper, too. She is working on the rehearsal dinner and has asked for my suggestions of a restaurant near Moody Church. And it sounds like she’s ready to finalize her guest list, pending your approval when we visit them after your graduation.

July 15, 1969 – Dear Meg. My relatives from New York, Florida, and Wheaton are visiting my folks in August. Maybe we can see them? Plus we’ll have your birthday, mine, camp, Bob’s wedding [Nate’s friend],and a plan for our wedding. Wow! What an August! Love, Nate

shoppingJuly 16, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’ve been all over the place today, shopping, meeting a girlfriend for lunch, running around in the Loop. One of those street photographers caught me on film, and I look like I’m on my way to a circus with my polka-dot dress. It was hot out! I saw a doctor, and we talked at length about “the pill.” It sounds controversial. He said that blood clots are the most serious threat, and about the only real doubt in most physicians’ minds The other stuff about diabetes is more myth than anything at this stage. He didn’t pressure me at all. So that’s just one more thing for us to talk about and decide.

July 16, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m looking forward to those days, after camp, after this autumn, after November 29th when I wake up with you in the morning, eat breakfast and pray with you, and plan the day with you. Being a law student, Army officer and civilian lawyer will be even better because you’re my wife.

July 17, 1969 – Dear Nate. This goodie package [cookies, photos, sentimental items] was tossed together in a flash, but I hope you enjoy it. Besides, thinking of those other guys down at Ft. Riley who might be getting goodie packages when you are NOT, just makes me feel awful. No one is going to get more packages or letters or surprises than my Nate! Love, Meg.

May 17, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Once we are married, every experience will be better with you: each tragedy mitigated, each success heightened, when you are my wife. I’ll thank the Lord eternally for a love for you and from you that will last forever. I miss you. My heart yearns for you. I know I can’t live without you.

“God has made everything appropriate in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)